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The Godfrey brothers, better known as Morcheeba, return with The Antidote, the fifth album of their now decade-long career. The album can be considered as a record of great changes for the English band. First among these is the vocalist: Daisy Martey takes the place of Skye Edwards.
Additionally, for the release of the CD, the band signed a new record deal, leaving behind the one that had linked them for years to a major label.
Always masters in the art of downtempo, Morcheeba are skilled mixers of various styles that combine trip-hop, funky, electronica, blues, and folk, synthesized into a song form that is easy to enjoy. The success thus achieved explains the use of their music for soundtracks, advertisements, and, naturally, the impressive number of copies of their albums sold (more than five million). Morcheeba is definitely a reference point for the entire new ambient movement that has emerged from the mid-nineties to today. Following the success of Big Calm, Morcheeba have carefully calibrated the stylistic directions of their work, enriching their sound in a refined and convincing manner.
After parting ways with Skye Edwards, they spent some time looking to find a new and "right" voice to collaborate with, until they came across Daisy Martey and were mesmerized. Hence, The Antidote. A new chapter aimed at reinventing without distorting their own history.
The single "Wonder Never Cease" is a clear demonstration of this. The path remains that of relaxed atmospheres, and the voice, although different from Skye's, adds a new touch of personality to the sound which, overall, remains the unmistakable sound of Morcheeba.
The album, well-balanced in its tracklist, takes us through landscapes now more markedly electronic (loops, sampling) now more classically rock (certain guitars are very prominent in various solo moments).
The Antidote can thus satisfy the palate of long-time fans of the band, as well as tantalize and win over an audience with a penchant for the more psychedelic sounds of the '60s.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Wonders Never Cease (04:12)
What do you feel
When you let go of the wheel
Can you take a leap of faith
Will you face the change of pace
There are worlds out there
Beyond compare
Going on a journey
Somewhere far out east
We'll find the time to show you
Wonders never cease
All that we’ve been through
Brings my soul so close to you
Why not cast your fears aside
We can laugh until we cry
There are worlds out there
Beyond compare
Going on a journey
Somewhere far out east
We’ll find the time to show you
Wonders never cease
Going on a journey
Somewhere far out east
We’ll find the time to show you
Wonders never cease
Wonders never cease
Wonders never cease
Wonders never cease
Wonders never cease
Wonders never cease
Wonders never cease
Wonders never cease
Wonders never cease
Wonders never cease
Wonders never cease
Wonders never cease
02 Ten Men (04:13)
Vacations in Europe
Sensational sense
We made the most of
Your inheritance
Come, you son of a gun
How can it be done?
We're still on the run
Ten men all rolled into one
(Ten men in one)
Ten men in a prodigal son
(Whirlwind young gun)
Ten men all rolled into one
(Ten men in one)
Ten men in a prodigal son
(Whirlwind young gun)
Ten men transcend
We're sitting pretty
Admiring the view
Indulging in pleasures
You can't take with you
Yes, I am obsessed
I must confess
Oh, I need a rest!
Ten men all rolled into one
(Ten men in one)
Ten men in a prodigal son
(Whirlwind young gun)
Ten men all rolled into one
(Ten men in one)
Ten men in a prodigal son
(Whirlwind young gun)
Life's too short this time
Life's too short this time
Life's too short this time
Life's too short this time
I need experience
Like a teenager
All this exuberance
Let's grow up later!
I need
Like a teenager
All this
Let's grow up later!
04 Like a Military Coup (03:17)
When the tower tumbled
We began anew
Had no time for warning
Only déjà vu
It comes flashing back
Then just fades to black
All gone
All the land rejoices
Now the coast is clear
No more silent voices
To whisper in your year
I am in my element
With a panoramic view
There's no inspiration like
A military coup
Children blowing kisses
Strangers to the truth
Carrying the wishes
Of a bygone youth
Bye-bye cabaret
Sci-fi agony
All gone
All the land rejoices
Now the coast is clear
No more silent voices
To whisper in your ear
I am in my element
With a panoramic view
There's no compensation like
A military coup
A mellow melody
Rolling endlessly
How long?
How long?
How long?
05 Living Hell (05:51)
Locked in a cage
By yourself
Downtrodden rage
Breeds poor health
Make an excuse
Then duck out
It's self-induced
Knuckle down
Try to get up
Go somewhere
Dying for love
Way out there
If you want to escape this living hell
Cast off your chains and be free
If you don't believe you owe it to yourself
You can owe it to me
You can owe it to me
Wipe off the dust
Let it shine
You can adjust
Give it time
Ready to leave
And you show up
You got a grief
Come grow up
If you want to escape this living hell
Cast off your chains and be free
If you don't believe you owe it to yourself
You can owe it to me
If you want to escape this living hell
Cast off your chains and be free
If you don't believe you owe it to yourself
You can owe it to me
I'm here to help
You decline
Wanna rebel
By design
Cut off your nose
To spite your face
And superimpose
Your disgrace
If you want to escape this living hell
Cast off your chains and be free
If you don't believe you owe it to yourself
You can owe it to me
If you want to escape this living hell
Cast off your chains and be free
If you don't believe you owe it to yourself
You can owe it to me
(I'll find a way)
I'll find a way to lead you astray
Just a little longer
(I'll find a way)
I'll find a way to lead you astray
Stay a little longer
(I'll find a way)
I'll find a way to lead you astray
Just a little longer
(I'll find a way)
I'll find a way to lead you astray
Stay a little longer
Yeah, you can owe it to me
You can owe it to me
You can owe it to me
You can owe it to me, to me
You can owe it to me
06 People Carrier (04:21)
Well it was '94 when I dug you out
And like the time before it was just bad luck
I should've knocked you out with an uppercut
but you smothered me shut
What is with me and these needy folk?
As we start some fun soon becomes a joke
Before we (?) we were up in smoke
It's rich going for broke
It's rich going for broke
The people carrier
Takes care of us all
Our safety barrier
Won't let us fall
When you hit the drink you're a different character
And it all comes down in a twisted mess
When you're holding court you're a big (?)
Desperate to impress
I see you open up on a rare occasion
You've been dead so long that you've decomposed
And you come on strong like a pitch invasion
And the following day the case is closed
The following day the case is closed
The people carrier
Gets us from A to B
We're so much happier
Now we can see
I nearly broke my back trying to bring you happiness
I was way off track, some crazy horse
Then I collapsed in a shaggy mess
Fresh grounds for divorce
Fresh grounds for divorce
The people carrier
On top of it all
Over safety barrier
And then we fall
The people carrier
On top of it all
Over safety barrier
And then we fall
07 Lighten Up (04:12)
I can feel a storm brewing over nothing
We were having fun, there's no harm done there
You need attention, I can see you're sulking
It's about time that you learn to share
Lighten up, it's gonna brighten up
I want to play, you're in the way of our sunshine
Lighten up, it's gonna brighten up
Just let it go, and I will throw you a lifeline
I don't know what happened to those resolutions
We think we found the truth at last, when it escapes
Inside the mirror is a false impression
I can feel so swollen when I'm in good shape
Lighten up, it's gonna brighten up
I want to play, you're in the way of our sunshine
Lighten up, it's gonna brighten up
Just let it go, and I will throw you a lifeline
Lighten up, it's gonna brighten up
I want to play, you're in the way of our sunshine
Lighten up, it's gonna brighten up
Just let it go, and I will throw you a lifeline
Lighten up, it's gonna brighten up
I want to play, you're in the way of our sunshine
Lighten up, it's gonna brighten up
Just let it go, and I will throw you a lifeline
08 Daylight Robbery (02:51)
The heavy gangster helps himself
Don't have time for no one else
Brittle bones and rotten veins
Celebrate ill gotten gains
No time for justice
Or sweetness and light
How does it thrust his weakness aside?
The grass is hissing to disallow
This misappropriation now
Hold up
That's daylight robbery
Hold up
You're bleeding us dry
Hold up
You're making a mockery
Hold up
Disorganised crime
Send them to hunt them
And bring them to trial
No room to function
With dogs running wild
Holding us hostage
Spreading your germs
Rebelious wish kids
We're ready to burn
Hold up
That's daylight robbery
Hold up
You're bleeding us dry
Hold up
You're making a mockery
Hold up
Disorganised crime
Kiss it goodbye
Hold up
That's day light robbery
Hold up
He's bleeding you dry
Hold up
You're making a mockery
Hold up
Disorganised crime
Hold up
It's day light robbery
Hold up
You're bleeding us dry
Hold up
You're making a mockery
Hold up
Disorganised crime
Kiss it goodbye
I curl up and die
09 Antidote (06:20)
The skill it takes to create
The pill to govern our state
I'm thrilled to get this laid on
I've spilt my last cradle song
Oh, you won't feel insecure for sure
I've got the medicine
To suit the mood you're in
I've got the antidote here
My friend will let us in
No matter where we've been
I've got the antidote here
Go get a hit
Eternal licks yea
We'll fix a mixture now
Go get a hit
Eternal licks yea
We'll fix a mixture now
You served your country so well
Usurped by the wrong personnel
On that, on that bombshell
Pray tell
I've got the medicine
to sink the mood you're in
I've got the antidote here
My friend will let us in no matter where we've been
I've got the antidote here
Go get a hit
Eternal licks yea
We'll fix a mixture now
Go get a hit
Eternal licks yea
We'll fix a mixture now
Go get a hit
Eternal licks yea
Go get a hit
Go get a hit
Let's fix a mixture
Go get a hit
Go get a hit
Eternal licks yea
Go get a hit
Go get a hit
Let's fix a mixture
Go get a hit
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Other reviews
By The Punisher
The antidote... is exactly what I need to get through the listening of this terribly boring and useless album unscathed.
An almost outrageous and irritating album for those who loved the early Morcheeba.
